Carcass-dehairing machine



R. W. RIDGWAY.

CARCASS DEHAIRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4, IQIB.

1,322,821 Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. W. HIDGWAY.

cARcAss DEHAIRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4,1918. 1,322,821. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- y 3d .93 E D R. W.) RIDGWAY. cARcAss nEHAlRlNGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4,19l8.

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V/ TE R. W. RIDGWAY.

CARCASS DEHAIRING MACH-INE. APPLICATION FILED APR.4, 1918. 1,322,821.PmnwdvNov. 2.5, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

"" I* IIIIII IIIIIII IIIIII IIIII IIIII IIIIIf IIIII IIIIII j ROBERT W.RIDGWAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORiTO THE ALLBRIGHT-NELL y COMPANY,A CORFGBATION OF ILLINOIS.

CARCASS-DEI-IAIRING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 25, 1919.

Appiication fried Aprn 4, 191s. serial No. 226,566.`

` specification.

This invention relates to an improved form of hog scraping machinewherein a plurality of rows of staggered beaters are associated with ahog supporting platform for thepurpose of alternately raising andlowering a hog on the platform and simultaneously rotating and conveyingthe same upwardly on said platform during a de-y hairing operation.

Vlt is an object of this invention to provide a hog deliairing mechanismhaving a plurality of beatersy arranged in staggered rela-y tion withrespect to one another.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a hog scrapingmachine provided with a plurality of rows of beaters so disposed thatthe beaters in one row are staggered with respect to the beaters inadjacent rows to permit the beaters to 'be more closely associated withone another.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a carcassdehairing machine provided with staggered beaters adapted to raise androtate carcasses on a platform'during the process of deliairing thecarcasses.

lt is furthermore an object of the invention to construct a carcass-deliairing machine wherein a plurality of parallel rows of heaters areadapted to be positioned closer together by alternately staggering thebeaters in adjacent rows. Y

An important object of the invention is the construction of an improvedform of carcass dehairing machine, embracing a plurality of rows ofstaggered beaters associated with an endless conveyer which is adaptedto carry a carcass upwardly to be operated on by said beaters whichalternately raise said carcass and permit lowering of the saine during adehairing operation. i

Other and further important objects of this invention willbe'apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

, Figure l is a side elevational view of a hog`- scraping machineembodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 4 4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a central section taken through one of the beaters, with partsbroken away.

Fig. 7 isa view similar to that shown in Fig. 3, of a modified form ofhog scraping machine, with parts broken away.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken online 8-8, of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a beater constructed similar to thebeater shown in Fig. 6, but disclosing the modified form of mountingshaft therefor used in Figs. 7 and 8. Y

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1, indicates a supporting framework having mountedin the lower portion thereof a mechanism for conveying hair and refusefrom the hog scraping machine and comprising a hopper 2, terminati'n@ ina vat or casing 3, at the lower end thereof. A conveyer or belt 4, isdisposed within the vat 3, on shafts 5 and 6, and-is adapted to beoperated by aV large gear 7, mounted on the shaft 6, and meshing with apinion 8, which is rotated by a chain 9, trained around the gear on oneextending end of a drive shaft 10, transversely journaled near. theupper rear end of the framework l. Y

Rigidly mounted in the framework 1, abovefthe hopper 2, is an inclinedcarcass platform, grid or support, comprising a plurality of parallelinclined channel bars or beams 11, spaced from one another to affordslots or openings therebetween. `The lower end of each of said bars 1l,extends beyond the front end ofthe framework 1, and is bent yupwardly asdenoted 'by the reference numeral 12, and as clearly shown in Figs. land 3, is positioned above a scalding vat 13, disposed in front of the,framework 1. 11n-"inclinedv feed conveyer 14, is mounted within the.scalding vat 13, ony gears 15, mounted on a lower shaft 16,.journaledin the sides of the vat 13, and on an upper shaft 17, mounted above thevat 13, and driven through a gear 18,'by means ofa chain 19, trainedaround the gear 18, and around a gear secured upon a driving shaft oraxle' 20, journaled transversely near the upper rear end of theframework 1, above the drive shaft `10.1. The vat feed conveyer 14, isprovided with a plurality of flights, pushers or fingers 21, disposed atright angles to the conveyer for the purpose of-engaging a carcass inthe scalding vat and carrying the same upward over anV inclined platform,22, disposed between the chains of r the vat conveyer 14, vto permitthe delivery of the carcass ontothe upwardly bent portions 12, of thechannel bars 11. The shaft 20, has securedon one extending end thereof agear 23', around which a chain 24, is trained.v Said chain 24, is alsotrained around a pinion 25, keyed to one end of a y shaft 26, journaledupon the top fof the lso ' any suitable source of power.

shaft 31.

framework 1. 1A large driving gear 27, is secured on the other end ofthe shaft 26, and meshes with a small gear 28, mounted on one end of amain shaftl 29, also journaled upon the top ofthe framework 1, andhaving a pulley wheel 30, secured on the other end thereof adapted to bedriven from Adjustably ournaled across the framework 1, below the shaft20, is a Each of the shafts 2O and 31, is

Y provided with sprocket wheels 32, around .which an inclined conveyer33, is trained,

equipped with cross-pieces 34, to each of which a plurality ofequidistantly spaced pushers or arms 35, are secured. The outer ends ofsaid pushers 35, are slightly curved, and when directed downwardlyslidably, engage in the grooves afforded by the channel barsll, for thepurpose of delivering or' moving a carcass from the bent portion 12, ofthe platform, upwardly on the platform.

A spray mechanism is rigidly supported on the framework 1, withintheendless conveyer 33, and comprises a plurality of Vinterconnectedpipesj36, equipped with a plu-LA rality of distributed spray nozzles3f?,l for sprayingv and washing carcasses as they are conveyed throughthe machine upwardly onthe supporting platform by the conveyer 33.

The pipes 36,'are connected with the upperend ofa main feed pipe 38, thelower end of which is connected with a centrifugal pump 39, mounted onone side of the machine, and is driven by the beaterV driving shaft'lO.,through a belt'40, and a pulley wheel 4.1which is secured upon oneextending end of the shaft' 10. Secured uponA the other extending end ofthe shaft 10, isa

' allel with said 'shafts 42.

the front ofl plane of the beater shafts 42, and is par`Y Securely andre. movably clamped upon each. of said beater shafts 10 and 42, are aplurality of. spaced beaters or Scrapers, alternatelydisposed in theslots or openings afforded bythe channel bars. 11, of thesupportingplatform. In order that the beater shafts may be mountedcloser to one another the beaters on adjacent beater shafts arestaggered with respect to each other, as clearly shown vin Fig. 5,thereby affording an arrangement of beaters adapted to continuouslyengage a' carcass as theV same is'carried upwardly on the supportingplatform by the pushers 35, of the conveyer 33. Secured on one project;ing en'd of each, of the beater shaftslO and 42, Vis a sprocket wheel43. Trained around pairs of the beater sprocket wheels 43, and

`around a plurality of idler sprocket wheels 44, rotatably journaled onthe framework 1, below the sprocket wheels 43, and in the same verticalplane therewith, is an endlessY driving chain 45, adapted to be drivenby the driving beater shaft 10, for the pur- Y pose of simultaneouslyrotating all of the beatersat the same rate of speed.

A s clearlyV shown in. Fig. 6 each of the beaters embraces a pluralityof similarly consti'uctedmetaly clamping members, each of whichcomprises an inner arc-shaped clamping wall 46, adapted to seat upon abeater shaft 42. Integrally formed on opposite sidesof said .curved wall46, are inclined abutment walls 47 .and 48, each pro- Y vided with anaperture. Formed. integrally on the inner surface of the inclined wall48, and on opposite'sides of the aperture, is a pair of parallel ribs orabutments 49. The outer ends of the inclined walls .47 and 48, areintegrally connected one to the "other by means of an arched supportingvmember or loop 50, provided with an opening '51,.in the outer portionthereof substantially opposite the curved wallv 46. The loopy 50, islprovided with apertures in the side wall thereof adjoining the inclinedwall 48, and inf 1 tegrally formed onlthe inner surface of said Vsidewall on opposite sides. of'each of said apertures are ribs or, abutments*52. 1ntegrally formed on opposite sides ofv the: loop 50,. are a pairof-outwardly directed Vparallel iianges or guides 53,eacli of whichstarts on the side ofsaid loop adjacent the. inclined wall 48, andcontinues upwardly around ,the outer curvedwall oftheloop, andterminates at the upper end of the loop iso wall connected with theinclined wall 47. The flanges 53, thus aHord a guide channel. Theclamping members are removably secured to one another around a beatershaft by means of clamping or retaining bolts 54, which project throughthe registering apertures in the abutting inclined walls 47 and 48, ofadjacently disposed clamping meinbers. The bolts 54, are positioned withthe heads thereof placed between the ribs 49, to prevent rotation ofsaid bolts as the nuts thereof are threaded into position thereon. Theopenings 51, in the looped walls of the clamping members afford a meanswhereby the retaining bolts may be secured in position or removed.Removably secured byretaining bolts 55, to each of the clamping membersbetween the guide flanges 53, and on the side provided with apertures,is the lower end of an outwardly extending flexible beater arm 56, madeout of fabric or other suitable material. `Rigidly secured on theleading face and near the outer end of each of said beater arms are aplurality of curved beater or scraping blades 57, made of metal or otherdesirable material.

1n the modified form of hog scraping machine shown in Figs. 7 to 9,inclusive, the construction is substantially the same as that alreadydescribed with the exception that the stationary carcass supportingplatform formed by the channel bars 11, is replaced by a number ofequidistantly spaced curved bracket arms 5S, the inner ends of which arerigidly secured to the front of the framework 1while the outer ends arepositioned adjacent the upper end of the scalding vat conveyer' 14, topermit carcasses from said scalding vat to be deposited onsaid bracketarms. Rotatably journaled transversely on the front wall of theframework 1, below the bracket arms 5S, is a shaft 59, provided with aplurality of sprocket wheels 60, disposed between the bracket arms 58,and around each of which an endless chain 61, is trained. A drivingshaft 62, is journaled transversely near the upper rear end of theframework 1, and secured on said driving shaft 62, are a plurality ofsprocket wheels 63, disposed in the planes of the sprocket wheels 60, topermit the upper ends of the chains 61, to be trained around saidsprocket wheels 63, to

yafford an inclined continuous movable supporting frame, the chain beltsof which are simultaneously actuatable, and are each arovided with aplurality of outwardly projecting pushers or arms 64, adapted to lift acarcass off of the bracket arms 58, to permit the movable support tocarry the carcass upwardly through the machine. A plurality of parallelbeater shafts 65, are transversely vjournaled in the framework 1, in aninclined plane between the upper and lower laps of the chains 61, of themovable support. Said beater shafts 65, have secured thereon a pluralityof hubs or drums 66, disposed in the planesof the chains 61, andraffording supports for the upper laps of said chains, intermediate theshafts 59 and 62. Secured on each of the beater shafts 65, betweenalternate pairs of the drums 66, are a plurality of beaters similar' inconstruction to the beaters already described and shown in detail inFig.6. To permit adjacent beater shafts 65, to be mounted in close proximityto each other, the beaters on adjacent beater shafts are staggered withrespect to each other.

rEhe operation is as follows:

When the hog scraping machine is set in Operation by rotating the pulleywheels 30 and 41a, from any suitable source of power,

the conveyers and beaters are also operated. A hog carcass in thescalding vat 13, is engaged by the arms 21, and is carried upwardly overthe platform v22, and is deposited upon the apron formed by the upwardlycurved ends 12, of the channel bars 11. The pushers 35, next engage thecarcass and push the same upwardly on the stationary platform into thefield of operation of the staggered beaters.

As shown in Fig. 3, the beaters are so mounted and formed that incertain positions the flanged outer curved portions thereof projectupwardly beyond the upper surface of the carcass platform, while inother positions theuppermost portions of the beaters are substantiallyflush with the upper surface of the carcass platform. This arrangementpermits the carcass in the field of operation ofthe beaters to bealternately raised and lowered upon said platform, and at the same timesaid carcass is given a rotary motion by the flexible beater' arms 56,of the rotating beaters, the blades 57, of

which,strike the carcass and dehair or scrape the same. The sprayingapparatus is used during the dehairing process, and theremoved hair andrefuse is washed into the hopper 2, and is carried od by the conveyerbelt 4, while the water from the spraying'- apparatus runs into thelower portion of said hopper from which it is drained.

The flexible beater arms 56, are movably secured to the metal clampingmembers of the beaters, and are disposedbetween the flanges 53, in sucha manner that when Isaid beater arms are bent rearwardly in striking 120against a carcass, said flanges 53, act as guides for` said beater armsand prevent the same from moving or bending laterally, thus obviatingsaid beater arms from accidentally striking the pushers 35, of theconveyer 33.

As clearly Ishown in Figs. 4 and 5, the beater shafts are permitted tobe mounted within a short distance of one another due to the staggeredarrangement of the beaters upon adjacent beater shafts. This stag- 130gered arrangement of the beaters also has the advantage of continuouslysubjecting a 4 carcass to the action ofthe beater arms and blades fromthe time it is moved into the.

field of operation of the lowermost beaters until it is discharged fromthe upper end of the carcass platform.

. rapidly rotating staggered beaters,saidcarcass is alternatel raisedand lowered and is simultaneously rotated by the combinedV action of thebeater arms and the moving platform. As previously described, during.

the dehairing of a carcass, the same is washed by sprays of liquid fromthe nozzles 37, which are disposed above lthe movable carcass platform.Y

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I `claim as my invention:

l. In a hog scraping machine embracing a stationary support, andstaggered beaters acting through said support on carcasses supportedthereon to alternately raise and lower said carcasses a-ndsimultaneously rotate the same during a dehairing operation.

2. A carcass scraping machine comprising an inclined stationary supporthaving openings therein, and a lplurality of rows of beaters associatedtherewith acting through said openings on carcasses carried on saidsupport, said rows of beaters arranged with the beaters of adjacent rowsstaggered with respect to one another. 1 Y

3. In a device of the classdescribed, a platform having openingstherein, means independent of the platform and mounted thereabove foradvancing carcasses thereover, and a plurality of rotatable staggeredbeaters acting through said openings to rotate said carcasses andalternately raise and lower the same during a dehairing'operation.

'l 4c. In device of the class described, a

platform` having openings`l therein, means thereabove and independentofthe platform for advancing carcasses thereover shafts rotatablyassociated with `said platform, and' beaters on said shafts actingthrough said platform openings to engage said carcasses to rotate anddehair the same, said beaters arranged with the beaters on adjacentYshafts staggered with respect to each other.

5. The combination with a carcass dehair-' members on said means adaptedtoengage carcasses to rotate and dehair the same, and

an endless conveyer disposed in an inclined plane above said-beatermembers for lcarrying carcasses into the field of operation of saidbeater members.

6. In a machine of the class'described, a

slotted support, staggered rotary scraping mechanisms actingupwardlythrough the slotted support on carcasses supported thereon, meansindependent of the support for advancing said carcasses through themachine, means beneath said meehanisms for conveying hair and refusefrom the machine, and means above said mechanisms for spraying a liquiduponsaid carcasses to wash the same during a dehairing operation.

7. In a carcass dehairing machineof thek Y casses by said beaters.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name 1n the presenceof two subscribing witnesses. Y

' ROBERT w. niDewi-ir. Y

Witnesses: i

EARL M. HARDINE, vCHARLES W. HILLS, Jr.

